ELUSIVE VICTORY

Scott Davison's column on our failed war on drugs was right on target. But
it will take more than good logic to persuade our government to abandon
this madness. Over the decades we have seen a huge increase in the number
of drug war-related agencies and industries, the prison system being one of
the biggest.

This nation is literally "addicted" to fighting drug use, so much so that
Americans have been willing to torch the Bill of Rights in their ignoble
crusade. And the hypocrisy of our drug war is not lost on our youth, who
readily point out that drug war politicians often take donations from the
tobacco and alcohol lobby. What will it take for our nation to kick the
drug war habit? The answer seems to be as elusive as a drug-free America.

Mike Wiley

Marshall, Texas